Table 1.

Common techniques for the fabrication of microfluidic vessel structures

Techniques	Features	References
Lithography	• Well established • Requires microfabrication facilities • Suitable for planar structures (channels with rectangular cross sections) • Suitable for serial fabrication	(Akbari et al. 2018; Alsmadi et al. 2017; Brown et al. 2014; Fenech et al. 2019; Ha and Lee 2013; Hansen et al. 2013; Herbig and Diamond 2017; Jain et al. 2016; Kwon et al. 2020; Mandy et al. 2011; Mathur et al. 2019; Menon et al. 2017; Muthard and Diamond 2013; Seo et al. 2017; Thomas et al. 2016; Tovar-Lopez et al. 2019; Tovar-Lopez et al. 2013; Tovar-Lopez et al. 2010; Tsvirkun et al. 2017; Westein et al. 2013; Zheng et al. 2015)
3D printing	• Suitable for 3D complex structures • Rapid prototyping • Rapidly evolving • Ability to print multiple materials • Limited resolution	(Costa et al. 2017; Hernández Vera et al. 2019)
Bioprinting	• Suitable for 3D complex vascularized structures • Multilayer tissues and organs can be printed	(Abudupataer et al. 2019; Bertassoni et al. 2014; Kolesky et al. 2016; Kolesky et al. 2014; Shimizu et al. 2020; Zhang et al. 2013)
Laser cutting	• Rapid prototyping • Low cost • Suitable for fabrication of thermoplastic devices • Limited resolution • Rough surfaces	(Wang and Shuler 2018)
Micromilling	• Rapid prototyping • Low cost • Suitable for high-aspect-ratio structures • Suitable for fabrication of thermoplastic devices • Limited resolution • Rough surfaces	(Li et al. 2012; van Dijk et al. 2020)
Injection molding	• Suitable for mass production • Suitable for fabrication of thermoplastic devices	(Mohammed et al. 2019a, 2019b; Zhu et al. 2019)
Unconventional	• Rapid prototyping • Enables 3D complex structures • Does not rely on microfabrication facilities or equipment • Does not require knowledge and expertise in microfabrication	(Chiu et al. 2003; Mannino et al. 2015; Nguyen et al. 2018; Parekh et al. 2016; Polacheck et al. 2019)
Biomimetic	• Suitable for replication of microvascular network • Suitable for studying vasculogenesis and angiogenesis processes	(Kim et al. 2015; Kim et al. 2016a, 2016b; Kim et al. 2013; Li et al. 2019; Michelle et al. 2017; Nguyen et al. 2013; Oh et al. 2017; Ryu et al. 2015; Sobrino et al. 2016)